Breach of contract suit filed by PR firm dismissed

GRAND RAPIDS — A lawsuit filed by Grand Rapids-based Lambert, Edwards & Associates Inc. against a former executive has been dismissed, according to statements from both parties.

According to a joint statement from LE&A, Sterling Corp. and Stephen Linder that Linder sent to MiBiz on Tuesday, the lawsuit was dismissed after “it was determined that the information that lead [sic] to the lawsuit was incorrect. Differences were amicably resolved, and we have no further comment.”

LE&A founder and CEO Jeff Lambert confirmed the dismissal in a separate email, noting that “differences were amicably resolved.” He declined further comment.

It remains unclear what transpired in the case since court documents pertaining to the dismissal were unavailable on Wednesday. Messages left with Judge Christopher Yates’ office — the judge presiding over the case — were not immediately returned.

In the initial complaint, LE&A, a public relations and investor relations firm, alleged Linder actively worked to divert clients to his political consulting firm after he resigned from LE&A in January.

According to LE&A, that work breached Linder’s fiduciary responsibility and eventually led to a violation of his non-compete clause that was in effect after he resigned from the firm in January.

LE&A bought Sterling Corp. from Linder in 2014 for $600,000, according to the court documents.

--Editor’s note: This story has been update to clarify that the statement about the lawsuit’s dismissal was a joint statement, not just from Linder.